And they get what they came for but no one lives happily ever after.
We love Jim Henson’s The Storyteller series starring John Hurt as the Storyteller and Brian Henson as the Dog. Our favorite episode: a Russian fairy tale called The Soldier And Death, in which a penniless soldier becomes rich and famous through his wit, courage and decency. Eventually he outwits Death itself, and there are consequences.
Recently we discovered that there was a second season of The Storyteller, starring Michael Gambon and Dog covering the Greek myths. We saw all four episodes the other night. They’re bleaker and more painful than the Western European fairy tales from the first season. The hero may triumph, but no one lives happily ever after. Blasted Greek mythology, so beautiful and sad. Consider this retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice. Robert Stephens’s Hades freezes the blood.
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February 27th, 2013 at 10:54
Loved this series as a kid too — can’t clearly recall but my favorite was the princess who had to walk in iron shoes. I think she turned to a bird at one point. Hmm I think I need to get this on DVD!